Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

Erwin Jay Boydston

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

National Memorial Cemetery
of the Pacific
G-703

Born:April 22, 1875 at Deer Creek, CO

Entered
Service in the US Marine Corps from California

Earned The Medal of Honor During the China Relief For
heroism July 19 - August 17, 1900 at Peking, China

Died:May
19, 1957 at the age of 82

Early at the
turn of the century a rebel force in China that called itself
the Society of "Righteous and Harmonious Fists",
subsequently called the "Boxers", initiated a
rebellion in China that threatened the legations of several
nations in Peking and Tietsen. The 1st Regiment (Marines) under
Major Littleton Waller arrived in China on June 19 and tried to
seize Tientsin, but was driven back. On June 23 Waller's Marines
finally entered the Tientsin, where they held tenuously until
reinforced by U.S. Army troops on July 12. Private Erwin
Boydston was one of ten Marine privates and one Marine drummer
awarded the Medal of Honor for the continuing actions from July
19 until the scaling of the walls at Peking, rout of the Boxers,
and rescue of the civilians and their Marine Guard on August 17.
Under a heavy fire from the enemy during this period, Private
Boydston braved heavy enemy fire and assisted in the erection of
barricades, earning the Medal of Honor.